Selected quad for the lemma: england_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
england_n	henry_n	king_n	lancaster_n	5,263	5	11.7365	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A45619	Political discourses tending to the introduction of a free and equal commonwealth in England / by James Harrington, Esq.	Harrington, James, 1611-1677.	1660 (1660)	Wing H818; ESTC R689	5,862	10

Political Discourses Tending to The INTRODUCTION of a Free and Equal COMMONVVEALTH IN ENGLAND By James Harrington Esquire LONDON Printed by J. C. for Henry Fletcher at the three Gilt Cups in Paul's Church-yard 1660. Pour enclouer le Canon IT is obvious and apparent unto sense That Venice Holland Switz are not molested with civil War Strife or Sedition like Germany France Spain and England yet will men have a Commonwealth to be a confusion What confusions we have had in England while the Norman Line strove for absolute power while the Barons strove for ancient Liberty while the Houses of York and Lancaster strove for Royal Dignity and last of all during these eighteen years in the Wars that have been between the King and the People in the difference of Judgment both concerning Religion and Government and under the perfidious yoke of the late Tyranny is known At the apparition or but name of a Commonwealth and before any such Orders are introduced or perhaps truly understood all men or the most of them are upon a suddain agreed that there be a good and perfect Fixation of the Army unto the Old Cause and that the remnant of the Long Parliament be assembled so we have this for a tast or relish of a Commonwealth that of the eighteen the present year is already the most unanimous Nor can this be attributed unsto Chance seeing the wit of man our case considered could not I think have invented a more natural and necessary way of launching into the Orders of a Commonwealth then first by Fixation of the Army so as no Council ensuing may have any ambitious party on which to set up and then to assemble that Council which hath given testimony of it self to have been the most popularly addicted By these it is no less then demonstrated that the Army is faithful and the people for the most active part of them which in like cases cometh to more then all the rest is wise Be it granted that the far greater part of them Libertatis dulcedine nondum expecta would force us unto the continuation of Monarchy if they could this is the old temper of a people in like cases thus the Romans upon the death of Romulus forced the Senate who would have introduced a Commonwealth to elect Numa with the succeeding Kings and could not be brought unto the abolition of Monarchy till it was imposed upon them by Brutus to abjure it Nevertheless this people having once tasted of liberty were of all others the most constant Assertors of the same It causeth with the best Politicians despair and as it were a kinde of tearing themselves that the people even where Monarchy is apparently unpracticable and they have no way but a Commonwealth or confusion hold their ancient Laws and Customs unalterable and persecute such as advise the necessary change of them how plainly soever demonstrated as Authors of Innovation with hatred if not in tumult and with violence as when Lycurgus in a like assault lost one of his eyes Here is the discouragement the Many through diversity of Opinions want of reach into the principles of Government and unacquaintance with the good that may by this means be acquired are never to be agreed in the introduction of a new form but then there is also this consolation that the many upon introduction of a new form coming once to feel the good and tast the sweet of it will never agree to abandon it This is all the comfort that Politicians in like cases have been able to give themselves upon consideration of the nature of the people in general But if we consider the nature of the people of England I am much deceived or the consolation of knowing men and good Patriots may yet be far greater For though the people of England may be twenty to one for Monarchy they are but deceived by the name seeing they having of late years been more arbitrarily governed then formerly desire no more under this name in the truth of their meaning then not to be at the will of men but return unto the Government of Laws for the late Monarchy being rightly considered was indeed no more then an unequal Commonwealth onely here is the fault of all unequal Commonwealths they pretend to be Governments of Laws and at the same time defer unto some one or few men such power prerogative and preheminence as may invade and oppress Laws which fault was the cause of perpetual feud or at least jealousie between our Kings and our Parliaments But there is in relation unto the people of England yet a greater encouragement unto Commonwealths-men for though if we look upon the true cause of popular Government the balance hath been many years in turning yet since it came to be so perceivable as to cause any mention of a Commonwealth it is but a short time Should we go so far as to compute it from the beginning of the late VVar it exceedeth not eighteen years in which the eyes and affections of the people are so wonderfully opened and extended that I do not think there are fewer then fifty thousand of the more active and knowing that drive vigorously at a Commonwealth while the rest are not onely calm and passive but mature for any good impression without danger or indeed appearance of any VVar or Tumult that can ensue upon the introduction of a new form nor is there the least improbability that an equal Commonwealth may be received with embraces seeing a Tyranny came not onely in but was supported without blood But if people for the extent of their Territory and for their bulk or number so great as this of England should fall to take a larger compass then I hope we shall need within the space of thirty years out of Monarchy to which they have ever been accustomed into a Commonwealth of which they have had no experience nor knowledge and that except in the ruine of Monarchy which how infirm soever useth not to expire otherwise without rapine VVar or indeed without any great confusion I doubt whether the world can afford another example of the like natural easie and suddain transition of one Government into another Yet ere two parts in three of this time be expired men can be despairing In what say they have you shewn us that we must necessarily be a Commonwealth Why in this say I that you cannot shew me how we should be any thing else In what posture say they do we see the people to give us this hope VVhy in the very best say I that in this state of Affairs a people if you consider their humour or nature could have cast themselves into This posture to return is thus or at least thus I take it to be The Armies of this Nation by restitution of their old Officers are fixed resolved upon and encouraged by the most active part of the people towards the prosecution of the Old Cause or introduction of a popular